Gig hopes to boost jailed Andy’s spirits

Andy Martin before he was jailed. Picture: justiceforandymartin.org.uk

A campaign to free convicted Reading man Andy Martin will take a step forward next month with another support gig.

Mr Martin, 44, was jailed in September 2007 for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and the illegal possession of a firearm after raids at Impact Studios in Wokingham Road and Cardiff Road in July 2006.

He was living at his second studio in Cardiff Road when he was arrested. He was jailed for 10 years after a nine-week trial with seven other defendants at Reading Crown Court.

He maintains he had nothing to do with the drug ring involving a friend he had allowed to live at his studio in the weeks before the raid.

His family and friends, who have always protested his innocence, gained the support of the Miscarriage of Justice Organisation (MOJO).

Mr Martin’s brother Mark has been campaigning for his release and has been working to highlight his case which is now also supported by a civil rights lawyer who has previously helped high profile cases including that of Barry George, the man released after being accused of killing Jill Dando.

Mark, 43, from Woodley, said: “Andy was sent to prison two years ago for crimes he did not commit and in this time we have formed a group including myself and some good friends of Andy’s to fight for his release.

“For the first year we didn’t really do much, just looked after his welfare and made people aware of what had happened but this year, after two unsuccessful appeals, we have managed to get the support of the MOJO and the lawyer and now we are holding events to just spread the word and make the case a bit more high-profile.

“Things are difficult for Andy at the moment, he is retreating more into himself, so we want to keep up these gigs to give him hope and try and lift his spirits.

“There are progressions being made legally that I can’t talk about but we are optimistic about the future and we hope it is ‘when’ rather than ‘if’ now.”

The family held a fundraising gig in April at RISC in London Street, Katesgrove, at which Paddy Hill, one of the wrongly convicted Birmingham Six, attended and made a speech. They plan to hold another gig with live bands on November 20 at the same venue.

“These gigs are a massive boost for the campaign and they are good fun too,” said Mark.

“We are not going to give up on this one and we want people to come down and find out what we are about and offer some support for Andy.”